Malleti Group
Malleti Group
I have questions on this Italian motorized infantry formation. First, it looks like it had 450 trucks. Is that right? If so it looks the trucks were delivered to Libya, possibly July 8, 1940, and likely reported as 500 trucks. Am I right?
Initially it is reported to be of six Libyan battalions (possibly of 600 men each). On December 9, 1940 it is reported as three battalions of 882 men each (one source says two battalions). Which is correct? Where did they come from?
The six battalions are numbered 1, 2, 4, 5, 18, 19. The 2nd, 4th, and 5th have the same numbers as 1st Regiment, 1st Libyan Division. Did they come from 1st Libyan? If so, did they transfer back to 1st Libyan in time for the September, 1940 invasion of Egypt? Is that how Malleti went from six to three battalions?
In December I have Malleti with 16-47mm guns, 12-65mm, 12-75mm, 4-105mm guns. Is this close? Where did the come from? Are any of them GAF?
The 4th armored brigade landed where on July 8, 1940? Benghazi? It had 600 men. Were they repair crews or recon?
On November 18, 1940, the Bambino Armored brigade was formed, supposedly from a Bersaglieri regiment. If true, which regiment? I show 8-47mm, 12-75/17, 12-100/17, 4-75mm A/A, and 8-20mm. Where did these weapons come from? It dies not sound like a Bersaglieri regiment.
Lots of questions. Hope I get lots of answers.
Initially it is reported to be of six Libyan battalions (possibly of 600 men each). On December 9, 1940 it is reported as three battalions of 882 men each (one source says two battalions). Which is correct? Where did they come from?
The six battalions are numbered 1, 2, 4, 5, 18, 19. The 2nd, 4th, and 5th have the same numbers as 1st Regiment, 1st Libyan Division. Did they come from 1st Libyan? If so, did they transfer back to 1st Libyan in time for the September, 1940 invasion of Egypt? Is that how Malleti went from six to three battalions?
In December I have Malleti with 16-47mm guns, 12-65mm, 12-75mm, 4-105mm guns. Is this close? Where did the come from? Are any of them GAF?
The 4th armored brigade landed where on July 8, 1940? Benghazi? It had 600 men. Were they repair crews or recon?
On November 18, 1940, the Bambino Armored brigade was formed, supposedly from a Bersaglieri regiment. If true, which regiment? I show 8-47mm, 12-75/17, 12-100/17, 4-75mm A/A, and 8-20mm. Where did these weapons come from? It dies not sound like a Bersaglieri regiment.
Lots of questions. Hope I get lots of answers.
Re: Malleti Group
I don't have the answers, but I would just like to point out that it's Maletti and Babini.
Re: Malleti Group
OK. Babini Group was formed from 10th Bersaglieri Regiment.
Anyone know Italian air strength in North Africa on December 9, 1940 for Operation Compass?
Anyone know Italian air strength in North Africa on December 9, 1940 for Operation Compass?
Re: Malleti Group
For the history and organization of the « Brigata Corazzata Speciale » (aka « Brigata Babini ») see my article on Comando Supremo...
Brigata Corazzata Speciale
The « Raggruppamento delle Oasi Meridionali » (better known as the Raggruppamento libico « Maletti ») originally consisted of the I, III, IV, V, XVII, XVIII, e XX btg. libico on 8 July 1940. By the end of thy month, three companies of sahariane were assigned. In December 1940 it had the I, V, XVII e XIX btg. libico and the I btg sahariano. The trucks were taken from various units in A.S., no specific shipment of truck were sent to A.S. for this unit.
Pista! Jeff
Brigata Corazzata Speciale
The « Raggruppamento delle Oasi Meridionali » (better known as the Raggruppamento libico « Maletti ») originally consisted of the I, III, IV, V, XVII, XVIII, e XX btg. libico on 8 July 1940. By the end of thy month, three companies of sahariane were assigned. In December 1940 it had the I, V, XVII e XIX btg. libico and the I btg sahariano. The trucks were taken from various units in A.S., no specific shipment of truck were sent to A.S. for this unit.
Pista! Jeff
Jeff Leser
Infantrymen of the Air
Infantrymen of the Air
Re: Malleti Group
Thank you! Two questions:
1) Did 1st or 2nd Libyan Divisions lose any battalions to form Maletti? And, if so, were they still short of them during Operation Compass on December 9, 1940?
2) You show 10th Bersaglieri as three battalions of trucked infantry and one of motorcycle. Shouldn't that be two battalions of trucked and one of motorcycle for three battalions total?
1) Did 1st or 2nd Libyan Divisions lose any battalions to form Maletti? And, if so, were they still short of them during Operation Compass on December 9, 1940?
2) You show 10th Bersaglieri as three battalions of trucked infantry and one of motorcycle. Shouldn't that be two battalions of trucked and one of motorcycle for three battalions total?
Re: Malleti Group
No and no.1) Did 1st or 2nd Libyan Divisions lose any battalions to form Maletti? And, if so, were they still short of them during Operation Compass on December 9, 1940?
1ª divisone libica: 1º ragg. libica - VIII, IX, X; 2º ragg. libica - XI, XII, XIII
2ª divisone libica: 3º ragg. libica - II, VI, VII; 4º ragg. libica - XIV, XV,e XVI
No. If you look at the section of my article titles Formation of the Brigata Corazzata Speciale, you will see that the 10º reg. bers consisted of a comando, 3 btg. autoportato bers. and a cp. c.c. da 47/32. The btg. motorciclisti was a separate unit created by combining three of the existing cp. motociclisti bers. that were originally part of the divisioni autotrasportabile tipo A.S. stationed in A.S. It was not part of the 10º reg. bers.2) You show 10th Bersaglieri as three battalions of trucked infantry and one of motorcycle. Shouldn't that be two battalions of trucked and one of motorcycle for three battalions total?
Note the 10º reg. bers never operated with the « Brigata Corazzata Speciale ». Assigned on paper, the regiment was used as a separate maneuver unit along the Via Balbia. During the Battle of Beda Fomm, the regiment was a separate element under 10ª armata control. It is possible that if the regiment had been with the brigade, the fight around the Pimple might have ended differently. The motorized infantry could have stayed up with the armor in the attacks.
Pista! Jeff
Jeff Leser
Infantrymen of the Air
Infantrymen of the Air
Re: Malleti Group
Thank you, Jeff!